Farm Store Assistant

Founded in 2002, in Springfield, MA, Gardening the Community (gardeningthecommunity.org), a fiscally sponsored project of TSNE (tsne.org), is a food Access and food justice organization engaged in youth development, urban agriculture and sustainable living to build healthy and equitable communities.  GTC works with youth to grow food on vacant lots and organizes to expand healthy, affordable food access in the Mason Square neighborhoods of Springfield.  GTC’s vision includes building a vibrant, healthy food system with just and equal access to it – one that recognizes and addresses inequity, so racism no longer determines the health or well-being of a neighborhood or community.   

The goal of this temporary position is to help fill immediate gaps in Farm Store staffing coverage while GTC evaluates the longterm farm store needs. This role will also assist with other projects, as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Farm Store Assistant

Responsible for managing the daily operations of the farm stand during assigned shifts, including:

• Leads the opening and/or closing of the farm store (including financial and product recordkeeping); ensures register close out sheets/receipts and paperwork are in order to present to the Financial Assistant;
• Ensures valuables are stored safely in dry storage area;
• Maintains store and cold storage cleanliness including daily compost, garbage and recycling disposal;
• Helps set up store product layout and culls through produce to make sure it is looking fresh;
• Ensures pricing signage is complete and synced with prices in Square;
• Works with other staff to develop educational materials about buying local, environmental benefits, and  farm store/GTC values, etc. for posting at the store and online;
• Role models good leadership, customer service, safe food handling, and work ethic for staff;
• Helps train any new store staff in store procedures, as needed;
• Staffs the Farm Store weekly based on assigned schedule (Saturday may be required); 
• Performs and supervises general store maintenance (including bathroom); refers issues concerning major repairs to Farm Store Manager/Executive Director;
• Will provide support on the farm, as needed;
• Contributes to the biweekly e-newsletter, as well as social media and website content when requested;
• Completion of Undoing Racism Workshop (required upon hire).
• Drive GTC refrigerated truck and passenger van, as needed.

 Other duties as assigned.

Schedule: This position will have standard weekly hours between 15-30 hours a week depending on the candidates availability and GTC needs. Availabilitly will be discussed in the interview process. 

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Successful background check;
• Successful Driver’s License Check, preferred;
• Ability to work Saturdays;
• Bilingual, preferred;
• Knowledgeable about GTC;
• Interest in issues relating to local food, food access, and sustainable agriculture;
• Retail experience, preferred;
• Highly detailed oriented;
• Experience in NEON CRM or other database management;
• Knowledgeable of Food Justice and Food Access issues and solutions;
• Completion of Undoing Racism Workshop;
• Experience working in an urban farm or garden setting (with GTC or other similar organization);
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;

• Ability to work occasional mornings, nights and weekends.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in a retail environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Work on a farm site;
• Work in a retail environment;
• Work in a retail farm store environment and in close proximity to other workers;
• Travel between farm sites;
• Exposure to inclement weather on occasion;
• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit or stand (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Regarding COVID-19: TSNE considers the health and safety of our employees of the utmost importance, and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and subject to your state and local laws, our policy requires that all employees performing in-person work at a TSNE designated office are fully vaccinated. For the purpose of this policy, fully vaccinated indicates that you have received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine, or both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Certain exemptions may be requested and will be considered by Human Resources.

Compensation and Benefits

Location:Work will be primarily performed at Gardening the Community in Springfield, MA.

Compensation: The starting pay for this position is $17.00/hr comesurate with experience.

Benefits:

Candidates whose standard weekly hours will be less than 18.75 hours a week are not eligible for benefits.

Candidates whose standard weekly hours will be over 18.75 hours a week are eligible for the below benefits:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and sick time for full-time staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim;
• Low-cost MetLife Dental and Vision;
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care;
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance;
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA;
• ...and more!

TSNE/GTC strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/GTC prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/GTC celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/GTC's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.